Students using inquiry-based learning for Science

Meyersdale school board members watched a presentation from science students showcasing the district’s inquiry-based elementary program during Wednesday’s meeting.

The group of fifth-graders brought small model homes they had wired with different electrical circuits and answered questions about their work.

“As fourth-graders, they were the first to participate in the science program last year,” Curriculum Director Tim Kretchman said. “The idea is kids are exploring and thinking about it, not just memorization.”

The program — which calls for more hands-on experiments and projects — has already shown positive results with the class scoring 16 percent higher on standardized science testing than the year before, he said.

Advertisement

Expanding the science program beyond the elementary school is in the future. “Our goal is to have inquiry-based science in the high school,” he said.

Board president Jeff Moser said the key to the program’s success is having excellent teachers working with the students.

Kimberly Berkley, who helped the students with the projects, was an example of how educators can engage children in their classes, he said.

“I would encourage any of you to come and watch one of the classes,” he said. “It’s really a pleasure to see what’s going on.”

In a related matter, Kretchman told the board that students in the district will be involved in a number of cross-curriculum projects this year.

Teachers are working together to show how subjects carry over into one another.

“Kids need to know you don’t take your math book to class and leave it there. You’ll use it in other areas,” he said.

An early example of the program would be students writing a paper in social studies and then evaluating it in an English course, he said.

Parents should be aware of some of the new educational initiatives. Those with questions are welcome to call the district and learn more, he said.

In other business, Superintendent Tracey Karlie told the board that technical difficulties over the last two weeks disrupted some parental and teacher access to the electronic grading system.

“It’s been very difficult,” he said.

Information technology staff members have been working to correct the problem before report cards are released on Monday, he said.

The software and network problems have kept some parents from being able to access their child’s running test and assignment grades online. Several teachers reported that scores were not uploading to the site as well, he said.